Photo credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
The Carolina Hurricanes didn't just mock Montreal on Friday. They exposed a gap the Canadiens can't ignore.
Carolina fans broke into the Ole chant midway through the second period. It made for a viral clip and a sharp headline.
But the chant itself isn't the story. What matters is what had to happen on the ice for that moment to exist.
The Hurricanes scored three times in the first period through Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven, and Eric Robinson.
Jackson Blake and Shayne Gostisbehere added second-period goals to make it 5-0 before the crowd ever started singing.
Carolina didn't steal Montreal's signature chant because the building was feeling cute.
They did it because the game was already so far out of reach that the arena had nothing left to do but twist the knife.
The series gap was wider than the scoreboard showed
The Canadiens managed one goal all night. Cole Caufield's power-play marker at 10:50 of the third broke Frederik Andersen's shutout bid.
Montreal scored just once across the final two games of this series.
Carolina closed the Eastern Conference Final in five games after dropping the opener and outscored the Canadiens 19-7 overall.
Rod Brind'Amour's group won four straight and never looked uncomfortable doing it.
That kind of dominance doesn't come from one hot goaltender or one lucky bounce.
Montreal's real takeaway has nothing to do with a chant
The Ole moment will get replayed all summer. Martin St-Louis knows that.
But the uncomfortable truth underneath it is simpler.
The Canadiens were never in control of this series after Game 1 and were outclassed in nearly every phase by a team now heading to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2006.
That's the conversation Montreal needs to have this offseason.
Not about a stolen chant echoing through Lenovo Center, but about the distance between where they are and where Carolina already is.
Also read on HockeyLatest :
Jeff Marek reveals Edmonton Oilers could bring back a former draft pick of theirs to the roster
Jeff Marek reveals Edmonton Oilers could bring back a former draft pick of theirs to the roster